Muffler



E. F. REINHARDT` MUFFLER Dec. 29, 1925 1,567,298

Filed Sept. l2, 1923 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES ELMER F. REINHARDT, OF OWENSBORU, KENTUCKY.

MUFFLER.

Application led'September 12, 1923. Serial No. 662,243.

To all whom t may conce/m.'

Be it known that I, ELMER F. REINHARDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Muiliers,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a device for muifling the sound of explosions and is intended primarily for use upon the exhausts of internal combustion engines, although it may be used upon tirearms and wherever it is desirable to mufiie the sound of an explosive exhaust. The invention provides a novel, simple and compact structure by the use of which the escaping gases will be permitted to ex and within a closed chamber and thon permittedto pass out after losing their explosive force. The invention is illustrated 1n the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a mufiier embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and

Fig. is a detail perspective View illustrating the joint between one of the muiiier tubes and a head of the outer casing.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a cylindrical body 1 which may conveniently be of sheet metal and is provided intermediate its ends with a partition 2 spotwelded at its periphery to the inner circumference of the cylinder and dividing the body into end compartments A and B. The ends of the cylinder are fitted in annular grooves 3 in heads 4 and o which are similar in their general contour and construction and are preferably metallic castings. Thr` heads are provided rentrally with openings alined with a similar opening in the partition 2 through which is inserted a long bolt v or connecting rod 6 equipped with a head 7 at one end bearing against the outer surface of the adjacent head 4 and at its opposite end equipped with a nut 8 adapted to be turned home against the head 5. Then the nut is full turned home, the heads will be clamped together so as to secure the cylindrical body in place, as will be readilyl understood upon reference to the drawing. .The heads are provided on their inner surfaces, preferably upon their vertical dialneters, with eccentricallyv located annular bosses 9 receiving the ends 0f mufiicr tubes l() and 11, the ends of the tubes abutting seats or shoulders defined by the bosses so that they will be clamped in place whenthe connectmg rod 6 is fastened. The head 4 has an opening formed therethrough concentric with the upper tube 10, and this opening receives the end of the exhaust pipe 12 of the engine. To secure the said exhaust pipe firmly in position, a tapered flange 13 is fitted about the same and engaged in the opening in the head so that, if the flange be driven home, the exhaust pipe will be firmly secured, and it is' to be noted that the external diameter of the exhaust pipe is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the upper muflier tube 10 so that the end of the pipe may enter the end of the tube, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and the exhaust gases discharged directly into the tube. To secure the flange 13 in place, it is provided with lateral extensions or lugs 14 through which cap screws 15 are inserted to be en-l gagod in openings 16 provided therefor in the head whereby the flange will be easily and Asecurely driven home. The head 5 is imperforate at the end of the upper muffler tube 10, except for the provision of a small internally threaded passage 17 in which is engaged a threaded stem 18, the outer end of the said stem being of angular cross section, as indicated at 19, whereby it may be engaged by a wrench or other turning tool. The stem 18 passes into the end of the tube 10 and carries a plunger 2O which fits closely within the tube so as to form a closure therefor. A lock nut 21 is mounted upon the stem and is adapted to be turned home against the external boss 22 upon the head 5 concentric with the internal boss `9 so that the stem and the plunger will be effectually secured in any position of adjustment. The muiiier tubes 1() and 11 pass through openings provided therefor in the partition 2 so that they are supported intermediate their ends by the partition as Well as at their ends by the heads 4l and 5, and this partition 2 divides the cylindrical body 1 into two expansion chambers, as will be read ily understood. At opposite sides of the par* tition, the upper muffler tube 10 has its side portions provided with longitudinal slots indicated respectively by the numerals 23 and 23 and through which the gases escape into the expansion chambers A and B. It should be noted that the slots 23 are shorter than the slots 23. By loosening the lock nut. 21 and then rotating the stem 18, the plunger 20 may be set at any desired point in the length of the upper mutller' tube 10 so that the effective length of the tube may be varied, and this adjustment of the plunger will, of course, in some instances ,reduce the eilective length of the slots 23. This adjustability or variability `of the upper muiiier tube is'advantageous in applying the muier to different engines inasmuch as engines of the same rating, in actual .practice, do not always agree m every detail in their' operation and it is frequently necessary to vary the adjustment of the muiller when applying it to an engine of aknown rating.

The lower muier tube 11 is provided in its sides with longitudinal slots 24 and 24 disposed at opposite sides ,of the partition 2. It should be noted that the slots 24 and 24 are all shorter than the slots of the inlet tube 10 and that the slots 24 through which the gases pass from the compartment A are shorter than the slots 24?. The front end of the said muffler tube11 is closed by the head 4 but the head 5 is rovided with an opening 25 formed in allnement with the muiiler tube 11 and threaded so that the front end of a discharge pipe 26 may be secured in this opening. The diameter of` the pipe 26 should be at least equal to the diameter of the exhaust pipe 12. In Figs. 1 and 4, I have shown the front end of the muiiler tube 11 as provided with a notch 27 adapted to engage alug 28 upon the inner circumference of the boss 9 so that, in assembling the tube, the slots 24 therein will be brought into proper osition without liability of shifting fromV t at position during the assembling of other parts of the muiiler. The rear end of the tube 10 is constructed in the same manner se that itmay be accurately placed when assembling the several parts. It is also to be understood that, i desired, the lunger 20 and its cooperating arts ma lib lshifted to the front end o` the mu er tube 11 and an opening formed through the head 5 in alinement with the upper muiiler tube to permit a cut-out to be mounted iu the upper mufiler tube.

In use, the exhaust gases How from the exhaust pipe 12 into the upper muiller tube `10 and pass out of this tube through the slots 23 and 23 into the compartments A and B. As the gases pass through the slots of the tube 10, they enter the expansion chambers definedl by the cylindrical body 1 and im inge against the inner surface of the cylindrical bod muier tubes. e gases at once expand and a part of them assumes the formV of a thin film traveling at high speed over the vinner which is eccentric to thesurface of the body 1. The gases may more readily pass from the tube 10 into the compartment A as the slots 23 are longer than the slots23 but they can more readily pass 'out of the compartment B as the slots 24t an automobile engine, for instance, the travi el of the vehicle will create a suction through thev discharge pipe which will aid in the operation of the muffler and will increase its etiiciency.

My device is exceedingly simple and coml pact in the construction and arrangement of its parts, may be produced at a low cost, and

'readily applied wherever it is to be used.

The several parts may be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled so that, if in the course o'f time, some parts should be broken or worn out, a new part may be substituted hrefor without requiring the use of skilled a or.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a muier construction, a casing having a tubular body circular in cross section s and heads at the ends of said body, a partition in said casing intermediate the length of said bod and dividing the casin v into forward an rear compartments, an inlet and exhaust tubes disposed longitudinall in said casing with their lends engaged wit said heads and their intermediate ortions passing through said partition, t e Yinlet tube having its inlet end re 'Sterin an opening in one of the he s and t e exhaust tube having its outlet end registerin with an opening in the other head` and sai tubes being provided in the forward 'and rear compartments with slots formed in their opposed -side portions and extending longitudmally of the tubes.

2. In a muiier construction, a casing having a tubular body circular in cross section and heads at the ends of said body, a partition in said casing intermediate the length of said bod and dividing' the casin into forwardv and rear compartments, `an' inlet and rexhaust tubes dis osed longitudinally in said casing with their ends-engaged with said heads and their intermediate portions passing thro'u h said artition, the inlet tube having its in et en registering with an opening in one of the heads and the exhaust tube having its outlet end registering with` with an opening in the other head and said tubes being provided in the forward and rear compartments with slots formed in their op posed side portions and extending longitudinally of the tubes, the slots in the exhaust tube being shorter than the slots in the inlet tube.

3. In a iuffler construction, a casing having a tubular body circular in cross section and heads at the ends of said body, a partition in said casing intermediate the length of said body and dividing the casing into forward and rear compartments, and inlet and exhaust tubes disposed longitudinally in said casing with their ends engaged with said heads and their intermediate portions passing through said partition, the inlet tube having its inlet end. registering with an opening in one of the heads and the exhaust tube having its outlet end registering with an opening 1n the Aother head and said tubes being provided in the 'forward and' rear compartments with slots formed in their opposed side portions and extending longitudinally of the tubes, the inlet tube having the slots in its forward end portion lon r than the slots in its rear end portion an the exhaust tube having its slots shorter than the slots of the inlet tube and the slots in its forward end portion shorter than the lslots in its rear end portion.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

ELMER-F. REINHARDT. [L 5.] 

